Over nearly three months, the initiative aimed to provide practical and personalized support to local SMEs and suppliers, equipping them with tools to become part of the salmon farming industry’s value chain.
Over nearly three months, the initiative aimed to provide practical and personalized support to local SMEs and suppliers, equipping them with tools to become part of the salmon farming industry’s value chain.
Within the framework of the Collaboration Agreement between the Sercotec Puerto Aysén Business Center and Multi X—and with the participation of more than 60 members of the local community, authorities, trade associations, and institutions—the Red Pyme Aysén program came to a close. This free public-private initiative has been delivering training courses and mentoring sessions since August to strengthen the capabilities of current and potential suppliers in the region’s aquaculture industry.
The program was carried out in two stages: the first consisted of training sessions led by Sercotec, followed by a second stage of mentoring led by expert executives from Multi X.
The closing event was attended by representatives from the Regional Government, Corfo, BancoEstado, and Inacap, as well as local trade associations, Multi X mentors, and suppliers, who took part in a space for dialogue, learning, and collaboration.
Daniel Santa Cruz, Corporate Supply Manager at Multi X and project lead from the salmon farming company, highlighted that “this program was designed to directly support our current and potential suppliers by providing them with concrete tools to become more efficient and competitive. Various areas of the company were also involved in this initiative, all sharing the conviction that Aysén has the talent and human capital needed to continue growing alongside the salmon farming industry.”
Meanwhile, Nelly Vargas, Regional Director of Sercotec, explained that “the strong participation achieved in this first Red Pyme Aysén gathering provided an excellent opportunity to engage with the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Aysén Region. During the event, we presented the different financing instruments offered by Sercotec and Corfo, as well as the alternatives available through the banking sector, especially BancoEstado Microenterprise. All of this aims to continue promoting local development and strengthening collaboration between the salmon farming industry, the State, and the community.”
The event opened with a presentation by Paulina Medina, Head of the Aysén Business Center, who, together with Germán Peña, Head of Supplier Management and Development at Multi X, discussed the creation and evolution of the project. Later, Patricio Catalán, CEO of Innovex and special guest of the event, shared his entrepreneurial journey and business development experience, offering valuable insights on creating and implementing business ideas that evolve into successful, sustainable companies.
This was followed by the Sercotec certification ceremony for the participating SMEs, along with the awarding of an additional certificate from Multi X to those who took part in the mentoring cycle.
A panel discussion titled “Development of Local Suppliers in Aysén: Competitiveness and Growth” was also held, providing a space to discuss strategies to strengthen the development of local suppliers, considering challenges related to technical training, access to financing, and coordination with public support programs. Panelists included Christian Stolzenbach, Regional Deputy Manager of Microenterprises at BancoEstado; Mario Pérez Colina, Academic Director at Inacap Coyhaique Campus; and Boris López Bravo, Regional Deputy Director of Corfo.
To conclude the event, six roundtable discussions were held in which program participants addressed questions on topics such as financing, tax compliance, brand strengthening, regulatory compliance, safety standards, and digital skills, alongside mentors and invited experts.
